[T]o get attention from us, it is necessary to demonstrate the kind of attitude that leads to competence — alert, thoughtful, observant, willing to be an active partner in developing a solution.
–Eric S. Raymond, How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Like a lot of what ESR used to write, this is remarkably good advice- clearly written, straightforward, and demonstrating a lot of insight into how functional software communities work. Thankfully, lots of people still do as ESR says, not as ESR does. Here is a brief story about one such exchange.
